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Need Extra Cash? Here’s How to Make $500 Fast

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How to Make $500 Fast

Are you wondering how to make $500 fast? Maybe you have bills you’re late on or you’re dealing with a decrease in income. Or, maybe you need to buy gifts for an upcoming holiday. Whatever the reason, it is possible to put $500 in your pocket quickly. It requires a bit of diligence but, when there’s an emergency or urgent matter, it’s worth the effort.

How to Make $500 Fast

If you want to earn $500 quickly, you have to look outside of traditional opportunities. Even if you landed a new job today, your first paycheck might not arrive for weeks. For many, that just isn’t fast enough.

Luckily, there are plenty of alternative approaches. If you need to know how to make $500 fast, give these options a try.

sell old clothing to make money

Sell Unneeded Stuff

Clothes, electronics, household goods, and many other items you own today could bring in money tomorrow. You just have to be willing to part with them and list them for sale in the right places.

Often, for quick cash, Craigslist is a solid choice and so is local Facebook groups. You may be able to connect with a local buyer and get cash in hand in as little as a few hours. However, you do have to price your items fairly, first and foremost. Also, you need to include a good description and photos, if possible, so shoppers can see what you have to offer.

If you put an ad on Craigslist or Facebook, make sure to pick a safe location to complete the transaction. For example, the parking lot for your local police or fire department may be ideal, as long as they don’t mind you handling things there. Otherwise, pick a public place, preferably one with surveillance, and consider bringing a buddy with you when you meet the buyer.

Online and Direct Sales

Alternatively, you can list items for sale online or even sell directly to companies. For example, Decluttr will buy tech, gadgets, DVDs, and even Legos straight from you. Just scan the barcode for your item in the app, and you’ll receive an offer. If you accept, Decluttr sends you a shipping label, allowing you to pack up your stuff and get it one its way.

Once Decluttr has your items, they issue a payment the next day. If you opt for PayPal or direct deposit, you could complete the whole transaction in less than a week.

dog walking to earn money

Embrace the Gig Economy

If you don’t have items to sell, you might want to explore the gig economy for opportunities. You can find short jobs and side hustles that can help you increase your earnings fast.

Animal lovers may have luck on Rover. There, you can find dog walking and pet sitting opportunities, especially if you live in a big city. Depending on the services you offer and demand in your area, you could make $500 in as little as a week or two.

For those who fancy themselves as writers, errand runners, website developers, or a variety of other forms of professional, consider checking out Fiverr. The site covers over 100 niches, many of them representing short-term opportunities.

While you do have to work to land a gig, and the work must be turned in and approved before you get paid, you could make $500 in just a week or two on Fiverr, depending on what you have to offer.

TaskRabbit is another option, focusing mostly on people who need small tasks handled for them. This can include anything from errand running to handyman work, and you don’t always have to have prior experience to find opportunities. How quickly you can earn $500 depends on your skill set and the rates you set, so make sure to create enticing offers when you apply and stay within the going rate in your area, according to your level of expertise.

Become a Rideshare Driver

While technically part of the gig economy, rideshare driving has become its own monster. Both Lyft and Uber are giants in the space, and it’s pretty easy to get started if you meet the criteria.

For Lyft, you need to be at least 21 years old and have a smartphone. Plus, you’ll need a valid driver’s license, good driving record, and social security number. They also conduct a background check, and your car has to meet their standards.

Since pulling in around $21 an hour isn’t uncommon, you could make $500 in a single week if you drove for about 25 hours. However, the amount you could earn varies by location, so you might need to head to a populated area or the local airport to increase your money-making potential.

Uber has similar requirements, though you could be as young as 19 and qualify as a driver.

Rent Out a Room

If you have a spare room and live in an area frequented by tourists, you could earn $500 fast by listing on Airbnb. Almost anyone can qualify to list as a host, and signing up is completely free.

Hosts in popular locations could land a guest quick. Once you do, you can receive your payout in as little as 24 hours after the person checks in, though it may take as long as seven days for the transaction to process.

Usually, Airbnb’s fee is about 3 percent of what you earn as a host, though it can be higher under specific circumstances. If you live in a popular area, you could make $500 in a week or less, though that depends on the rate you set and if you land a guest.

All of the options above can be ideal when you need to make $500 fast. Consider trying one or all of them and see if you can bring in the cash you need quickly and efficiently.

Do you have any tips on how to make $500 fast? Share them in the comments below.

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How to Make $1,000 in a Day

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How to make $1,000 in a day
In a world where you can get online and make money doing just about anything you’ve got to wonder about the various ways to make money fast. There are many online entrepreneurs that claim they make $1,000 or more in a day. Is that even possible?

There are plenty of scams out there but there are some ways to make money fast. If you’re wondering what they are, here’s how to make $1m000 in a day (online and otherwise).

How to Make $1,000 in a Day

If you’re looking to make $1,000 in a day you are probably looking to purchase something or pay off some debt immediately. You may also be looking to grow your savings and create a financial foundation for yourself and your family. Whatever the case may be, there are plenty of ways to make a grand in 24 hours. Here are just a few:

  • Build up some ways of making passive income. Passive income can require an immediate investment of time or money but it is something that will continue to pay you for years. In fact, many people are able to make $1,000 or more in a day through their various streams of passive income. If you’re interested in generating your own passive income, check out What is Passive Income and How to Generate Passive Income for more information.
  • Start a business (or more than one). Many people who have wondered how to make $1,000 in a day wind up starting their own business. You can create t-shirts or any other kind of product and sell it online. If your product is popular enough you may even be able to quit your day job and rack in the cash with your new business!
  • Become a salesperson. If you don’t already have a full-time job becoming a salesperson is a great way to make $1,000 in a day. Salespeople oftentimes get commission on the sales they make. If you’re selling big-ticket items you are more likely to rake in $1000+ in a day.
  • Flip houses or cars. Know how to refurbish/remodel and flip? Flipping houses and cars can be a great way to make $1000 (or more) in a day. Laws on flipping property vary from state to state so be sure to check your individual state’s laws regarding flipping property. If you’d like more information on how to flip cars, click here.
  • Start a blog. Another great way to start making $1000 (or more) a day is to start a for-profit blog. You can make profit blogging by adding advertisers to your website or charging readership fees. Either way, starting a blog is a great way to start making extra cash (possibly even $1000 a day).
  • Just land a high-paying job. If you are searching how to make $1000 in a day there is one really easy fix. Simply find a high-paying job. There are a few jobs out there paying $1000 (or close to that) per day. They are often high stress but it could greatly benefit you financially.

Other Ways to Make Money Fast

Maybe you aren’t looking for a way to make $1000 every day. Maybe you simply need fast money. If that’s the case there are plenty of ways to gather up some cash on the fly. None of these will make you $1,000 in a day but they will give your finances a boost.

  • Sell items from around your home. Whether you sell it to a pawn shop, host a garage sale or post it on popular sites like eBay, Craigslist or OfferUp, selling unused items from around your home can help you rack up some extra cash quick. If you’re wondering how to make $1,000 in a day, take a look around your home.
  • Sell your body/blood. Another great way to make some extra cash is selling blood, plasma or other bodily fluids. You can sell your hair, kidney stones and even your body (to a certain extent).
  • Recycle. You know how your soda cans and other recyclables have a cash amount on the side? In some places you can turn in your recyclables for cash. You probably won’t be able to pay your bills using the cash you get from cans, etc. but it can help if you’re in a crunch.
  • Pick up a side hustle. Side hustles are a great way to make extra cash and, if it is regular enough, it may be a great way to make $1,000+ a day. Whether your side hustle is mowing lawns or a part-time job at the mall, you can create a stable financial foundation for yourself and make extra cash with a good side hustle.
  • Ask for a loan. If all else fails and you really need cash fast you can always try applying for a loan. Loans are a great if you are in a pinch but be sure you read about the loan and its interest rates, etc. before applying and accepting the loan.

These are just a few of the many ways you can make extra money or make some quick cash in just one day. Do you have any other ways to make $1,000 in a day or make money fast? Share them with us. 

Photo: Investopedia

5 Ways To Get Cash In A Hurry

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Cash in a hurry
For you to appreciate what it means to need cash in a hurry and get it, you have to have been in an ugly financial situation. But if you haven’t, here’s a scenario for you. Imagine that you’re having a great evening on a Friday, just catching up with friends at the pub. It’s the weekend, so you don’t have to worry about waking up early and hurrying through half of town to the office. Then it happens. You get a call from your mum. She’s crying. Your dad has to have surgery in two days or cancer in his groyne will kill him. Mum can’t afford the surgery. She needs an extra £1500. Now your paycheck does not come in until the end of the month, which is in two weeks. A fine evening is destroyed, and you’re on the verge of losing your dad. Life switches up on you in two minutes flat. You need at least £2000, and you may have to buy a ticket to get on a plane and see him.

When you need cash like this, then you can relate to five ways to get cash in a hurry. If you haven’t been in this kind of situation though, trust me it is far better that you never find yourself in it. Regardless, however, knowing how to access cash above your bank account balance when you need it can prove to be vital, if not life-saving. Here are five ways to get cash in a hurry.

Friends and Relatives

We see the new usefulness of friends or relatives when a tricky situation shows up, and you need to get some cash from them. A good note of warning though: you have to be sure you’re friends with a person before you go banging on their door at 2 am. If you met them at your ex’s wedding more than three years ago and no form of communication has taken place between the two of you in all this time, don’t expect them to open their arms (and pockets) and welcome you. Friends can be helpful in trying times, but if your friends are all on your same income level, chances are they won’t be able to offer much, and if you are in hard luck, they could also be dealing with something tough at the same time.

Sell stuff

Depending on how much time you have and how much you need, you can put up something of yours that is valuable for a quick sale. You can be sure that because you’re in a hurry, you’re not likely to get the best price. So basically prepare to lose something you are not quite ready to lose, for a price that’s not quite fitting, given the inconvenience of losing it in the first place. But when you’re down and out of options, this may not be so bad, or it could be, depending on a large number of factors.

Loan Sharks

A loan shark is an individual with a lot of money to lend, (so much that he does it for a living) even though he is not a certified credit broker, not recognised by the authorities and just a bad idea. This individual is almost always shady and involved in all types of illegal or semi-illegal business for which he is not very friendly with law enforcement. You can get your loan very quickly from this kind of guy, but beware the interest he heaps on the original amount. Anyhow, whether you pay up on time or not, because this is all shady business, your performance will not be submitted to credit management authorities, so it has no effect on your credit score. A general word of warning though: let this be your very last alternative.

Get an extra job

If your need can wait, you can quickly grab a second (or third?) job and scoop up the pay to attend to whatever unplanned cash need you have. The problem is, you still need to wait until the end of the month to get your check. At least then, you can expect more than one check. Since you’re exchanging your time for money, this doesn’t scale very well, and it impacts your schedule mercilessly. You may have to connect the second job right from the first one, which means you’re returning home much later every day, perhaps in the wee hours of the morning. If you’re able to land a great second job with a decent pay, you may be able to handle the emergency in good time without breaking anything else.

Talk to a credit broker

Not a loan shark this time. A licensed, real business whose job is to simplify the loan process for you, educate you as much as you need to know, and find the best loan that suits your need. This is the best option if you want to cash in a hurry. Some loan agencies can get you a loan in as little as 10 minutes, and this can be accessed online. creditpoor.co.uk is one of the friendliest and most accommodating lenders in the UK because they have access to a reliable panel of lenders and will approve your loan application very quickly even when you have a bad credit score.

One important thing to keep in mind is, no matter where you get that emergency cash from, before committing to a loan, be sure you can pay back within the agreed time, and the interest rate is a reasonable percentage.

Photo: 401(K) 2012

Ways to Make Quick Money

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Ways to Make Quick Money
Hard work pays off and sometimes working hard means picking up some extra cash here and there for savings or to have fun with. About 6 percent of college graduates work more than one job so that they’re able to have extra money. However, there are ways to make extra money fast without picking up a second job (or robbing a bank).

Whether you are looking to just add some extra money to your saving’s account or need to pay off a looming debt, these are just a few ways that you can make some money in a short amount of time legally:

  • Sell your time. Babysitting, yard work and the like are ways to make some quick cash on the weekends (or even during the week). Reach out to friends and family to start who you know may need some babysitting services or yard work done. You can name your price, but be realistic. Babysitters these days are earning up to $15 an hour.
  • Online surveys. Sites like Swagbucks.com will pay you for taking surveys. Sometimes you are paid in cash and other times you are given gift cards with these sites. But, make sure to do extensive research on these sites. Many are scams or promise to pay you but don’t. While you may not always get straight cash, gift cards are still be a form of cash for you to use.
  • Donate your plasma or sell your hair. You can trade your plasma, which is found in your blood, up to twice a week for cash. As you donate your plasma, you can be compensated for your time doing so. Checking out those larger clinics in the cities will probably pay your more money. You can also sell your hair if it is healthy (untreated hair, regularly shampooed and brushed, etc.). You should find a seller before you cut your hair though. There are sites online you can use, but check reviews and ensure you have the sale finalized always before providing your hair. You could also sell to a wig company, but be sure to ask them what their requirements are for buying. The longer your hair, the more money you are likely to earn from it. You should be in good health before considering either of these routes.
  • Sell items on Craigslist, Ebay and Flea Market pages. Have some gently used items or furniture you no longer needing or using? You can sell items you own online through sites like Ebay, Craigslist and even Facebook Flea Market pages. You can set your own prices for the items, but there is a strategy involved. Clothes do not sell as well as bigger items, unless they are brand new or still have the tags attached, but you can sell clothes by the bundle in order to turn around cash faster.
  • Use your YouTube channel to your advantage. If you already have a YouTube channel with several followers, you may be able to begin to turn this into a way to generate some cash. If you consistently have many views on your videos, you could earn money from ads by connecting your channel to a Google AdSense account. To begin, you need to enable your account for monetization. Your pay is not determined by the amount of followers (although, having a strong starting audience is helpful), but by how many people watch the ads or click the ads that play before your video. Here is a quick overview on a step-by-step how-to for making money on YouTube.
  • Review websites. If you’re looking for a little extra cash, try reviewing websites. You can go to UserTesting.com and review websites. For every 20 minutes you spend reviewing websites, you get $10.
  • Become an Uber or Lyft driver. This is a no-brainer. If you have a reliable vehicle, you can make some fast money by spending some time driving people around.
  • Get paid to search the Internet. Qmee is an innovative program that allows you to be paid for searching the Internet. Simply put an add-on on your browser and conduct your searches as normal. There may be added sponsored content when you search, but you’ll be getting paid!
  • Get on Clickworker. Clickworker is a great way to make some extra cash fast. The company assigns you a task. You will usually end up doing data entry, web research or form filling. Then you get paid via PayPal. You choose when you would like to work and it is fast cash.
  • Sell your notes. If you are in school or recently graduated, you can sell your notes online. Websites like Notesale will allow you to post your notes for specific classes. You can type them or scan handwritten notes and upload them to the site as a PDF.
  • Recycle your old phones. Most of us have an old phone (or two) sitting around. You can receive money for recycling these phones. If you have a newer smart phone you can also sell your phone on websites like eBay and Craigslist for extra cash as well.
  • Grab a gig on Fiverr. Fiverr has become more popular recently. The website allows people to market their skills to others and people seeking someone to do work will choose you based on what you have to offer. You can do just about anything on the site (there is a man selling his pranks). It is a great way to make a few extra bucks.

Of course, some of these options do include still doing some work, but you can still get that money in your hands faster and with less traditional effort doing the above. You may not be able to necessarily rely on these options as lucrative ways to make a living (especially selling your hair and blood), but at least you can those funds quickly for whatever purpose you may need them. If nothing else, it will be some extra cash in your pockets.

Have you discovered any quick ways to make some extra cash?

Photo: Flickr: Tax Credits